Rear-axle truss.



\ A. Rl BROCKSMITH.

REAR XLE TRUSS. APPLiCATloN FILED Dic. 7. 1914.

53,996. Patented sept. 21, 1915.

DOLPH R. BROCKSMITH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

REARf-AXLE TRUSS.

1&534996.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. Q1, 1915.

Application led December 7, 191%( Serial No. 8.75.745.

To all 'wilma t mag/concern 'Be it known that'l, ADOLPH R. BROCK- sMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates residi. ingin the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, Rear-Axle ltional axle-housings so as l tion between have invented 'a new and useful a specification.;

' This invention relates to axle trusses, and the object of the invention is to provide ay truss for strengthening and supporting secto support or stengthen ythe entire housing, and prevent weakening at any of the points of connecthe various sections ofthe axle-housing.

With thefforegoing and other objects in view I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention in the accompanyingdrawings in .Which- Figurerl is an elevation of a sectional axle-housing having my improved truss connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating one of the clamp brackets applied tothe axle-housing so as to reinforce and` strengthen the connection between two connectingportions of the sectional housing. Fig.7 3' is a sectional view approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrow. F ig. 4 is an outer side elevation of one of the clamping brackets removed from the axle-housing.

{r1-the 4'embodiment in which l have illus-4 tintedl my invention the axle-housing includes the two end sections l having radialv fianges 2. outer ends of the sections and with the fianges 2,said disk being effective tore-tain the brake bands on the brake-band wheels 4. A

A disk 3 is integral with the The outerends of the tubular sections 5 of the axle-housing extend into the inner ends of the tubular sections l, and said sectionsare rigidly united by rivets' 6, the heads of which form a substantial annular series of projections aroundthe tubular sections l adjacent to the inner ends thereof. Preferably the sections 5 are extended within the sections l to orbeyond theipoint at whiehthe fianges 2 begin, so that the sectionsl .Land 5' are telescoped one within the other a suflicient distance to receive the clampingbrackets upon the telescoped portions thereof. i'

Upon each of the tubular sections 1 is Y mounted a clamping bracket, said brackets being mounted between the annular series of projections 6 and the fianges 2, and ein;

Truss, ofwhich the following isbracing'the telescoping portions of the tubular sections l and 5. Each clamping bracket -comprises an arcuate strap 7 adapted to be clamped upon one of the sections l'between the flanges 2 and the projections 6, the ends of said strap being onv opposite sides of the i axle-housing. The ends of the strap 7 coniprise threaded round extensions 8 connectingwith the flat portion of the strap 7 by means of reinforcing ribs or enlargements 9.

Each bracket includes a cooperating member adapted to clamp againstl the under side of the extension l. ln the form shown the cooperating member comprises av casting including an arcuate bear against the under side of the tubular part l, being seated between the projections 6 and the inne-r edges of the flanges 2. The projections 6 in cooperation with the clamp- -Ying action of the bracket, prevent slipping of the bracket when the truss rod is tightened. On each end of the arcuate portion l0 is a fiat portion ll, said portions being in the same plane and each being provided with a hole 12`to receive the round ends 8 of thestrap. Releasable nuts 13 are screwed on the threaded ends 8 below the flat porportion 10 adapted to tions 1l, and said nuts are adjustable. to

clamp the two portions of the clamping bracket firmly vand 'rigidly in position. Since both members of the clamping bracket are secured between the inner edges of the flanges 2 and the projections G it will be understood that the tubular portions 5 of theihousing extend into the tubular members l beyond the outer edges of the brackets, so that when the brackets are clamped in position the telescoping'members of the Vhousing are firmly clamped together and areV strengthened and reinforced by the clamps. y .tion of the lower member of each bracket is provided with an integral depending part 14, at the outeredge Aof the lower portion of the bracket. falls or fianges 15 integrally connect the side edges ofthe depending portion 11i with the central part" of the arcuate portion of the lowermomber vof the bracket, said tivo walls or flanges being spaced apart to permit the truss rod to eX- tend'be'tween them. Theinner edge of the arcuate portion of the lower 'member of the bracket is provided with al depending fiange V16, and depending flanges/LV?v entend laterally from the walls or l5 at the opposite Vedge of the 'arcuate portion of the The lower side of the arcuate pory lower member of the bracket. The dependends passing through the outer ends of the ing Vportion 14 of each bracket is provide with a hole 18 midway between the walls 15, said holes 18 being arranged to receive the truss rod 19 in the manner shown. The truss rod 19 has its outer provided with releasable nuts 20 adjustable on the threaded ends of said rod and arranged to bear against the liat outer faces of lthe depending portions 14 of the brackets, whereby said truss rod may be firmly secured-in position.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the inner ends of the housing members 5 are formed with enlarged portions 21, the abutting edges of which are secured together, but which, under the vconstant strain and vibration to which the parts are subjected, are liabley to become 'weakened and so impair the eiiciencyof the device. The truss rod 19 has its central 'portion curved downwardly and v bears against the under side ofthe enlarged housing-21, so that when the nuts 20 are of the projections members,

tightened against the depending portions 14 of the clamping brackets the central housing 21will be firmly supported.

From the foregoing it will be understood lthat I have provided an eflicient device of the characterdescribed in which the clamp ing brackets reinforce and strengthen the connection fbetween the central housing members and `the lateral housing members,A

and that itis impossible for the clamping brackets to slip from their position because 6 and the anges 2 which cooperate with the clamping action of the brackets to retain themr in rigid permanent adjustment. Further, the construction of the brackets themselves, in the speciic'form to the superior eiiciency of the device.

Having described my invention what I 1. The combination with outer housing inner housing members extending into said outer housing members, elements fastening said outer and inner housing members together and extending beyond the outer surface of said outei' members, and enlarged portions on said Sinner housing members in connection with each other, ofv

clamping bracketsi clamping said outer housing members upon the innerhousing inembers and having their inner edges bearing against said elements whereby inward movement of said brackets is prevented, depending projections on the outer edges ot' said clamping brackets, reinforcing walls uniting said depending projections with the inner portions of said brackets, and lya. truss rod having its ends connected to said'de- Copies of this patent may be obtained for holes 18 and. is

tion, fiat portions 'on round threaded projections on pending portions between said walls and having its central portion engaging against said enlarged portions of said inner housingY members.

2. In an axle truss, comprising an arcuate strap, round threaded projections on the ends of said strap, a cooperating member having an arcuate porthe ends of said arcuate portion having holes through which said round threaded projections extend, a depending projection integral with said arcu ate portion, wall portions integral with said depending projection and with said arcuate portion, and a passage in said depending projection intermediate of said wall por-4 tions.

3. In an axle truss, a clamping bracket comprising a lower member including an arcuate portion adapted to bear against the axle-housing, flat projections on the ends of said arcuate portion provided with holes, a depending projection integral with one edge of said arcuate portion, parallel wall portions integral with said depending projection and with said arcuate portion and extending fi'oinr said projection to-poin'ts adjacent to the opposite edge of said arcuate portion, a depending fla-nge integral with the opposite edge of said arcuate portion, a passage in vsaid depending projection intermediateotl said wall portions, an arcuate sti'ap arranged to embrace the axle-housing, the ends of said strap extending through the holes in said flat portions, and nuts threaded on said projections below said flat portions.

4. The combination with telescoping axlehousing members, and clamping brackets clamped around the outer housing member eectively to compress the saine upon the inner housing member, of a depending projection at the outer edge of each of said clamping brackets, parallel wall portions integral with each of said depending projections extending toward the inner edges of said brackets, passages in said depending tions and through saidpassages, clamping nuts on said rod adjustable to hold said rod -tight betweensaid brackets, and means on a clamping bracket .f

the outer telescoping members preventingg said clamping brackets from slipping toward each other.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADOLPH R. BROCKSMITH.

Vitnesses:

A. F. WEiss-,-

Joiiiv D. Rirr.

iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentt Washington, D. C. 

